Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Parent \Par"ent\, n. [L. parens, -entis; akin to parere to bring
   forth; cf. Gr. ? to give, beget: cf. F. parent. Cf. {Part}.]
   1. One who begets, or brings forth, offspring; a father or a
      mother.

            Children, obey your parents in the Lord. --Eph. vi.
                                                  1.

   2. That which produces; cause; source; author; begetter; as,
      idleness is the parent of vice.

            Regular industry is the parent of sobriety.
                                                  --Channing.

   {Parent cell}. (Biol.) See {Mother cell}, under {Mother},
      also {Cytula}.

   {Parent nucleus} (Biol.), a nucleus which, in cell division,
      divides, and gives rise to two or more daughter nuclei.
      See {Karyokinesis}, and {Cell division}, under {Division}.

Source : WordNet®

parent
     n : a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to
         or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the
         role of guardian [ant: {child}]
     v : bring up; "raise a family"; "bring up children" [syn: {rear},
          {raise}, {bring up}, {nurture}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

parent
     
         (Or "mother", "precedessor") In a {tree},
        a node which points to at least one {daughter} node.
     
        (1998-11-14)